GREAT LAKES (NNS) – Seaman Apprentice Jackson Shlaffer graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) June 18, 2025.
Shlaffer, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, stated that he enlisted for several reasons, including the opportunity to continue his family’s military legacy.
“My father served in the Navy for 20 years, and I always looked up to him and what he was able to accomplish,” Shlaffer said. “It was hard seeing him leave, and I definitely missed him while he was away, but I also knew he was out there protecting our country and keeping us safe. I take pride in knowing I’m continuing what he started, and I hope that when I have a family one day, I will be the kind of person they can be proud of, too.”…